Left-handed batsmen are often described as either “stylish” or “gritty” yet Thorpe somehow managed to be both in an often struggling England team.
The Surrey star played exactly 100 Tests for England from 1993 to 2005 averaging 44.66 with 16 tons and a top score of 200 not out.
England failed to win an Ashes series in the 1990s but if there was one thorn in the Aussies side it was Thorpe, who averaged more against Australia than he did in his career overall (45.74).
He was plagued by depression, notably after the collapse of his first marriage.
He movingly wrote in his autobiography, Rising from the Ashes: “There came a time when I would have given back all my Test runs and Test caps just to be happy again.”
Ian Redpath died aged 83 on December 1
Despite Greg Chappell saying Redpath was one of two Australians — the other being the late Rodney Marsh — who would “kill” to get into the Test side, he showed a softer side in his 66th and final Test.
Prior to focussing on his antiques business Redpath made a century in his final innings against the fearsome West Indian attack — his third of the 1975/76 series the Aussies won — but became a then record 308th wicket for Lance Gibbs.
Before walking off he shook Gibbs’s hand and offered the West Indian legend a glass of champagne at stumps.
Derek Underwood died aged 78 of dementia on April 15
Known as ‘Deadly’ he amassed 297 wickets in 86 Tests — 42 more than any other English spinner.
The Kent stalwart would probably have reached the 100 Test club had he not opted to first play in the Kerry Packer breakaway World Cricket Series (1977-79) and then the first England rebel tour of South Africa in 1981/82.
FOOTBALL
Franz Beckenbauer died aged 78 on January 7.
Known as ‘Der Kaiser’ he was one of only three men to win the World Cup as player (1974) and as a coach (1990) with then West Germany.
UEFA hailed Beckenbauer as “one of European football’s greatest sons” who “shaped German football like no other”.
His legacy was later tarnished by his involvement in a cash-for-votes scandal — he maintained his innocence — surrounding Germany’s victorious bid to host the 2006 World Cup.
Declining health saw the personable former Bayern Munich legend withdraw from public life and live out his final days in Austria.
“He towered over everyone… and yet he was so down to earth,” said fellow 1974 World Cup winner Wolfgang Overath.
Andreas Brehme died aged 63 of a heart attack on February 20
